The DOI matches its Crossref record; 57 of the 58 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Industry sponsorship and research outcome: systematic review with meta-analysis
Abstract
Purpose Clinical research is widely sponsored by drug and device companies. We investigated whether industry sponsored drug and device studies have more favorable outcomes and differ in risk of bias, compared with studies having other sources of sponsorship. This review is an update of a previous Cochrane review.Methods In this update we searched MEDLINE and Embase (2010 to February 2015), Cochrane Methodology Register (2015, Issue 2) and Web of Science (June 2015). We included empirical studies that quantitatively compared primary research studies of drugs or medical devices sponsored by industry with studies with other sources of sponsorship. Two assessors included papers, extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Outcomes included favorable results, favorable conclusions, effect size, risk of bias and whether conclusions agreed with results.Results We included 27 additional papers in this update (review now includes 75 papers). Industry sponsored studies more often had favorable efficacy results, RR: 1.27 (95% CI 1.17-1.37), no difference in harms results RR: 1.37 (95% CI 0.64-2.93) and more often favorable conclusions RR: 1.34 (95% CI 1.19-1.51) compared with non-industry sponsored studies. Nineteen papers reported on sponsorship and efficacy effect size, but could not be pooled due to differences in reporting of data and heterogeneity of results. Comparing industry and non-industry sponsored studies, we did not find a difference in risk of bias from sequence generation, allocation concealment, follow-up and selective outcome reporting. However, industry sponsored studies more often had low risk of bias from blinding, RR: 1.25 (95% CI 1.05-1.50), compared with non-industry sponsored studies.Conclusions Drug and device studies sponsored by manufacturing companies have more favorable efficacy results and conclusions than studies sponsored by other sources.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“The source of research funding can lead to bias or perceptions of bias in the design, conduct, or interpretation of research.121 122”
From Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology using Mendelian Randomisation (STROBE-MR): explanation and elaboration. (2021) · cites this paper as [121]
Citations
Cites
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: the PRISMA statement
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., & for the PRISMA Group (2009) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.b2535 · Cited by 83,823
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA Statement.
(2009) · PubMed Central · Cited by 44,859
GRADE: an emerging consensus on rating quality of evidence and strength of recommendations
Guyatt, G. H., Oxman, A. D., Vist, G. E., Kunz, R., Falck-Ytter, Y., Alonso-Coello, P., & Schünemann, H. J. (2008) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.39489.470347.ad · Cited by 23,305
Development of AMSTAR: A measurement tool to assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews
Shea, B. J., Grimshaw, J. M., Wells, G. A., Boers, M., Andersson, N., Hamel, C., Porter, A. C., Tugwell, P., Moher, D., & Bouter, L. M. (2007) · BMC Medical Research Methodology · doi:10.1186/1471-2288-7-10 · Cited by 4,374
Pharmaceutical industry sponsorship and research outcome and quality: systematic review
Lexchin, J., Bero, L. A., Djulbegovic, B., & Clark, O. (2003) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7400.1167 · Cited by 2,147
Self-citationChan, A.-W., Hróbjartsson, A., Haahr, M. T., Gøtzsche, P. C., & Altman, D. G. (2004) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.291.20.2457 · Cited by 1,845
Scope and Impact of Financial Conflicts of Interest in Biomedical Research: A Systematic Review
Bekelman, J. E., Li, Y., & Gross, C. P. (2003) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.289.4.454 · Cited by 1,816
Industry sponsorship and research outcome
Lundh, A., Lexchin, J., Mintzes, B., Schroll, J. B., & Bero, L. (2017) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.mr000033.pub3 · Cited by 1,697
Self-citationSystematic Review of the Empirical Evidence of Study Publication Bias and Outcome Reporting Bias
Dwan, K., Altman, D. G., Arnaiz, J. A., Bloom, J., Chan, A.-W., Cronin, E., Decullier, E., Easterbrook, P. J., Von Elm, E., Gamble, C., et al. (2008) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0003081 · Cited by 1,546
Boutron, I. (2010) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.2010.651 · Cited by 842
Als-Nielsen, B., Chen, W., Gluud, C., & Kjaergard, L. L. (2003) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.290.7.921 · Cited by 746
Melander, H., Ahlqvist-Rastad, J., Meijer, G., & Beermann, B. (2003) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7400.1171 · Cited by 634
Xu, L., Freeman, G., Cowling, B. J., & Schooling, C. M. (2013) · BMC Medicine · doi:10.1186/1741-7015-11-108 · Cited by 569
The uncertainty principle and industry-sponsored research
Djulbegović, B., Lacevic, M., Cantor, A. B., Fields, K. K., Bennett, C. L., Adams, J. R., Kuderer, N. M., & Lyman, G. H. (2000) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(00)02605-2 · Cited by 485
Reporting bias in medical research - a narrative review
McGauran, N., Wieseler, B., Kreis, J., Schüler, Y.-B., Kölsch, H., & Kaiser, T. (2010) · Trials · doi:10.1186/1745-6215-11-37 · Cited by 452
The Anatomy of Medical Research: US and International Comparisons
Moses, H., Matheson, D. H. M., Cairns-Smith, S., George, B. P., Palisch, C., & Dorsey, E. R. (2015) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.2014.15939 · Cited by 446
Outcome Reporting in Industry-Sponsored Trials of Gabapentin for Off-Label Use
Vedula, S. S., Bero, L. A., Scherer, R. W., & Dickersin, K. (2009) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmsa0906126 · Cited by 360
Self-citationRochon, P. A. (1994) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinte.1994.00420020059007 · Cited by 355
Outcome Reporting Among Drug Trials Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov
Bourgeois, F. T., Murthy, S., & Mandl, K. D. (2010) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-153-3-201008030-00006 · Cited by 332
Rising, K., Bacchetti, P., & Bero, L. (2008) · PLoS Medicine · doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050217 · Cited by 328
Self-citationPharmaceutical company funding and its consequences: A qualitative systematic review
Sismondo, S. (2007) · Contemporary Clinical Trials · doi:10.1016/j.cct.2007.08.001 · Cited by 304
Corona, G., Maseroli, E., Rastrelli, G., Isidori, A. M., Sforza, A., Mannucci, E., & Maggi, M. (2014) · Expert Opinion on Drug Safety · doi:10.1517/14740338.2014.950653 · Cited by 297
Agreement among reviewers of review articles
Oxman, A. D., Guyatt, G. H., Singer, J., Goldsmith, C. H., Hutchison, B. G., MILNER, R. A., & Streiner, D. L. (1991) · Journal of Clinical Epidemiology · doi:10.1016/0895-4356(91)90205-n · Cited by 283
Effect of reporting bias on meta-analyses of drug trials: reanalysis of meta-analyses
Hart, B., Lundh, A., & Bero, L. (2012) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.d7202 · Cited by 255
Self-citationBero, L., Oostvogel, F., Bacchetti, P., & Lee, K. (2007) · PLoS Medicine · doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0040184 · Cited by 249
Self-citationKrleža-Jerić, K., Chan, A., Dickersin, K., Sim, I., Grimshaw, J., & Gluud, C. N. (2005) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7497.956 · Cited by 238
Influences on the Quality of Published Drug Studies
Bero, L. A., & Rennie, D. (1996) · International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care · doi:10.1017/s0266462300009582 · Cited by 223
Self-citationHow pharmaceutical industry funding affects trial outcomes: Causal structures and responses
Sismondo, S. (2008) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.01.010 · Cited by 217
Wyatt, J. C. (1991) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/0140-6736(91)92245-w · Cited by 197
DESIGN AND REPORTING MODIFICATIONS IN INDUSTRY-SPONSORED COMPARATIVE PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY TRIALS
SAFER, D. J. (2002) · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/00005053-200209000-00002 · Cited by 180
Flacco, M. E., Manzoli, L., Boccia, S., Capasso, L., Aleksovska, K., Rosso, A., Scaioli, G., De Vito, C., Siliquini, R., Villari, P., et al. (2015) · Journal of Clinical Epidemiology · doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2014.12.016 · Cited by 177
Reporting Mortality Findings in Trials of Rofecoxib for Alzheimer Disease or Cognitive Impairment
Psaty, B. M., & Kronmal, R. A. (2008) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.299.15.1813 · Cited by 175
Evolution of the Randomized Controlled Trial in Oncology Over Three Decades
Booth, C. M., Cescon, D. W., Wang, L. E., Tannock, I. F., & Krzyzanowska, M. K. (2008) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2008.16.5456 · Cited by 166
Lexchin, J. (2011) · Science and Engineering Ethics · doi:10.1007/s11948-011-9265-3 · Cited by 165
Self-citationWhy we need easy access to all data from all clinical trials and how to accomplish it
Gøtzsche, P. C. (2011) · Trials · doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-249 · Cited by 137
Problems in the Design and Reporting of Trials of Antifungal Agents Encountered During Meta-analysis
Johansen, H. K. (1999) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.282.18.1752 · Cited by 128
The Financing of Drug Trials by Pharmaceutical Companies and Its Consequences
Schott, G., Pachl, H., Limbach, U., Gundert‐Remy, U., Ludwig, W.-D., & Lieb, K. (2010) · Deutsches Ärzteblatt international · doi:10.3238/arztebl.2010.0279 · Cited by 102
Industry sponsorship and selection of comparators in randomized clinical trials
Lathyris, D., Patsopoulos, N. A., Salanti, G., & Ioannidis, J. P. A. (2009) · European Journal of Clinical Investigation · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2362.2009.02240.x · Cited by 102
Minimizing Bias in Randomized Trials
Psaty, B. M., & Prentice, R. L. (2010) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.2010.1161 · Cited by 100
Etter, J., Burri, M., & Stapleton, J. (2007) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01822.x · Cited by 86
Lack of Head-to-head Trials and Fair Control Arms
Estellat, C. (2012) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.1209 · Cited by 84
Extent and impact of industry sponsorship conflicts of interest in dermatology research
Perlis, C., Harwood, M., & Perlis, R. H. (2005) · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2005.01.020 · Cited by 78
Golder, S., & Loke, Y. K. (2008) · British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2008.03272.x · Cited by 72
Naci, H., Dias, S., & Ades, A. E. (2014) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.g5741 · Cited by 61
Rethinking credible evidence synthesis
Doshi, P., Jones, M., & Jefferson, T. (2012) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.d7898 · Cited by 60
Treatment Success in Cancer: Industry Compared to Publicly Sponsored Randomized Controlled Trials
Djulbegović, B., Kumar, A., Miladinović, B., Reljic, T., Galeb, S., Mhaskar, A., Mhaskar, R. S., Hozo, I., Tu, D., Stanton, H. A., et al. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058711 · Cited by 44
Comparator bias: why comparisons must address genuine uncertainties
Mann, H., & Djulbegović, B. (2013) · Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine · doi:10.1177/0141076812474779 · Cited by 41
Alasbali, T. A., Smith, M. R., Geffen, N., Trope, G. E., Flanagan, J. G., Jin, Y.-P., & Buys, Y. M. (2008) · American Journal of Ophthalmology · doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2008.07.005 · Cited by 38
Godlee, F. (2009) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.b5405 · Cited by 26
Dunn, A. G., Mandl, K. D., Coiera, E. W., & Bourgeois, F. T. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0084951 · Cited by 20
Katz, K. A., Karlawish, J. H., Chiang, D. S., Bognet, R. A., Propert, K. J., & Margolis, D. J. (2006) · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2006.07.005 · Cited by 18
Sponsorship, Antidepressant Dose, and Outcome in Major Depressive Disorder
Sinyor, M., Schaffer, A., Smart, K. A., LEVITT, A. J., Lanctôt, K. L., & Grysman, N. (2012) · The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.4088/jcp.11r07204 · Cited by 15
The effect of funding sources on donepezil randomised controlled trial outcome: a meta-analysis
Killin, L. O. J., Russ, T. C., Starr, J. M., Abrahams, S., & Sala, S. D. (2014) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004083 · Cited by 14
The importance of independent academic statistical analysis
DeAngelis, C. D., & Fontanarosa, P. (2010) · Biostatistics · doi:10.1093/biostatistics/kxq027 · Cited by 14
All clinical trials must be reported in detail and made publicly available
Furukawa, T. A. (2004) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7466.626-a · Cited by 13
Occupational Safety of Home Health Workers—Reply
Als-Nielsen, B., Chen, W., Gluud, C., & Gluud, L. L. (2003) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.290.23.3070-c · Cited by 9
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- Lundh A, Lexchin J, Sismondo S, Busuioc OA, Bero L (2011) Industry sponsorship and research outcome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 9:MR000033
- Lundh A, Sismondo S, Lexchin J, Busuioc OA, Bero L (2012) Industry sponsorship and research outcome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 12:MR000033
- The Cochrane Collaboration (2014) Review Manager (RevMan), version 5.3.5.: The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Skrivankova, V. W., Richmond, R. C., Woolf, B. A. R., Davies, N. M., Swanson, S. A., VanderWeele, T. J., Timpson, N. J., Higgins, J. P. T., Dimou, N., Langenberg, C., et al. (2021) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.n2233 · Cited by 1,648
Long-term (10-year) dental implant survival: A systematic review and sensitivity meta-analysis
Howe, M.-S., Keys, W., & Richards, D. (2019) · Journal of Dentistry · doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2019.03.008 · Cited by 602
Stroebe, W. (2020) · Basic and Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1080/01973533.2020.1756817 · Cited by 223
Efficacy of preprocedural mouthrinses in the reduction of microorganisms in aerosol
Marui, V. C., Souto, M. L. S., Rovai, E. S., Romito, G. A., Chambrone, L., & Pannuti, C. M. (2019) · The Journal of the American Dental Association · doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2019.06.024 · Cited by 200
Ilfeld, B. M., Eisenach, J. C., & Gabriel, R. A. (2020) · Anesthesiology · doi:10.1097/aln.0000000000003630 · Cited by 206
Metadata
- Authors
- Lundh, A., Lexchin, J., Mintzes, B., Schroll, J. B., & Bero, L.
- Affiliations
- University of Southern Denmark (DK)
- York University (CA)
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Hvidovre Hospital (DK)
- Corresponding author
- Lundh, Andreas
- Venue
- Intensive Care Medicine
- Published
- 2018-08-21
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1603-1612
- ISSN
- 0342-4642 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-1238
- OpenAlex
- W2888260605
- Semantic Scholar
- c39013a69577395e9c63ac2e2d7e4e8ac4c36583
- Cited by
- 162
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 3
- FWCI
- 3.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Intensive Care Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Macquarie University
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Issues, ethics and legal aspects › Pharmaceutical industry and healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Political Influence and Corporate Strategies
- Keywords
- industry funding, pharmaceutical industry, medical device industry, research funding sources, research bias, risk of bias, blinding, selective outcome reporting, conflicts of interest, clinical trials
- MeSH terms
- Drug Industry, Equipment and Supplies, Research Support as Topic, Treatment Outcome
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review